Q2 is the only HSE-compliant personal vibration monitor that measures ACTUAL vibration emissions in real time. And when this cloud-enabled technology was launched in 2018, it sounded the death knell for vibration risk assessments that rely on “assumed values” – whether those values come from tool manufacturers or third-party vibration databases.

Organisations that have deployed Q2, such as Network Rail, have been delighted by its performance. But they‘ve also been alarmed by what Q2’s on-tool measurements have revealed about the "assumed values" used in traditional vibration risk assessments (and by other personal HAV monitors, including wrist-worn devices) – that assumed values can be wildly inaccurate.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, because power-tool vibration emissions are known to vary enormously with tool condition, work-piece, the material being worked upon, and user application. As the HSE points out, “some data may underestimate workplace vibration levels substantially”, which implies that standard risk assessments can seriously undervalue true vibration dose - and that’s precisely what Q2’s real-time measurements have confirmed.

Mike Jones, Curotec’s founder, says, “new analysis by Q2 customers has highlighted the potential dangers of vibration risk assessments that use assumed values. As a result, we’ve ceased production of our own "assumed value" product – the Curo, and we’re offering Curo customers a buy-back deal to help them quickly upgrade to Q2. Real-time vibration measurement helps organisation protect their people, and we urge all responsible employers to adopt this technology.”